A Father-Daughter dance to remember

Published: Friday, January 31, 2014 at 7:15 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 31, 2014 at 7:15 p.m.

It is common to see a dad bring more than one of his daughters to the Marion County Father-Daughter Dance hosted by Ambleside School of Ocala.

Facts

If you go

8th annual Marion County Father-Daughter Dance

7–9 p.m. Saturday

Circle Square Cultural Center

$25 a couple

father-daughterdance.com

Last year, Dax Romine walked into Circle Square Cultural Center at On Top of the World Communities with a little girl on each arm.

One of them, Ava Gonzales, wasn’t his daughter.

It had gotten back to some of the Ambleside teachers that Ava wasn’t going to the dance, one of the bigger social events on the school’s calendar.

Ava’s father, Army soldier Esau Gonzales, was killed in a non-combat incident in 2010 while serving in the Middle East.

Ava and Romine’s daughter, Lola, were first grade classmates. While it wasn’t Lola’s idea to share her dad at the dance, she didn’t have a problem whatsoever that Ava would be joining them.

“As a parent you want your daughter to think this is a good idea,” said Romine. “Lola still could have decided not to (have Ava join us). We did have the discussion that lost Ava lost her dad and that she doesn’t get to do things like the father-daughter dance. When I asked, she was super excited about the idea.”

Both girls, wearing dresses in the same shade of pink, made a mad dash around the Circle Square Cultural Center enjoying craft activities, refreshments including ice cream, and dancing.

Romine, in his brown sports jacket, tie and khaki-colored pants, joined the other fathers as they watched the girls enjoy themselves with so many things to do.

A photographer captured the event, including the tug-at-your–heart slow dances.

“I was able to share that moment with both Lola and Ava,” Romine said.

Missing a male figure in her life was a void that both Ava and her mother, Melissa Kuhns, felt daily, but for one day she got more than just a dad.

“Ava really needed a good male influence in her life,” said Kuhns. “She was dealing with an emotionally difficult challenge. Her self-esteem and road to healing were greatly helped through (Dax Romine’s) generosity.”

Tonight will be the eighth time Ambleside School of Ocala will have the father-daughter dance. On the surface it might just look like just a dress-up party for girl 3 to 13. It is much more than that.

“We know how important father-daughter relationships are and that they start at a very young age,” said Heather Richards, the Father-Daughter Dance chairwoman. “The dance instills those relationships.”

There wasn’t any doubt who much it meant to Ava to have Romine be there for her. A construction paper note written in crayon by Ava conveyed it.

“Mr. Dax, I could not wait to dance with you. Thank the Lord that I could dance with you. Love, Ava.”

<p>It is common to see a dad bring more than one of his daughters to the Marion County Father-Daughter Dance hosted by Ambleside School of Ocala.</p><p>Last year, Dax Romine walked into Circle Square Cultural Center at On Top of the World Communities with a little girl on each arm.</p><p>One of them, Ava Gonzales, wasn't his daughter.</p><p>It had gotten back to some of the Ambleside teachers that Ava wasn't going to the dance, one of the bigger social events on the school's calendar.</p><p>Ava's father, Army soldier Esau Gonzales, was killed in a non-combat incident in 2010 while serving in the Middle East.</p><p>Ava and Romine's daughter, Lola, were first grade classmates. While it wasn't Lola's idea to share her dad at the dance, she didn't have a problem whatsoever that Ava would be joining them.</p><p>“As a parent you want your daughter to think this is a good idea,” said Romine. “Lola still could have decided not to (have Ava join us). We did have the discussion that lost Ava lost her dad and that she doesn't get to do things like the father-daughter dance. When I asked, she was super excited about the idea.”</p><p>Both girls, wearing dresses in the same shade of pink, made a mad dash around the Circle Square Cultural Center enjoying craft activities, refreshments including ice cream, and dancing.</p><p>Romine, in his brown sports jacket, tie and khaki-colored pants, joined the other fathers as they watched the girls enjoy themselves with so many things to do.</p><p>A photographer captured the event, including the tug-at-your–heart slow dances.</p><p>“I was able to share that moment with both Lola and Ava,” Romine said.</p><p>Missing a male figure in her life was a void that both Ava and her mother, Melissa Kuhns, felt daily, but for one day she got more than just a dad.</p><p>“Ava really needed a good male influence in her life,” said Kuhns. “She was dealing with an emotionally difficult challenge. Her self-esteem and road to healing were greatly helped through (Dax Romine's) generosity.”</p><p>Tonight will be the eighth time Ambleside School of Ocala will have the father-daughter dance. On the surface it might just look like just a dress-up party for girl 3 to 13. It is much more than that.</p><p>“We know how important father-daughter relationships are and that they start at a very young age,” said Heather Richards, the Father-Daughter Dance chairwoman. “The dance instills those relationships.”</p><p>There wasn't any doubt who much it meant to Ava to have Romine be there for her. A construction paper note written in crayon by Ava conveyed it.</p><p>“Mr. Dax, I could not wait to dance with you. Thank the Lord that I could dance with you. Love, Ava.”</p>